Speech-Language Pathology (SPPA)

USP Codes are listed in brackets by the 1991 USP code followed by the 2003 USP code (i.e. [M2<>QB]).

1000. Orientation to Communication Disorders. 3. [F1<>(none)] Acquaints students with professions of speech-language pathology and audiology. Provides students with opportunity to complete University Studies Orientation requirement.

1010. Introduction to Communication Disorders. 3. [(none)<>I, L] Introduces information regarding basics of speech and hearing. Discusses disorders of speech and hearing by defining the problem, etiology or theories of cause, classifications and controversies, evaluation techniques and therapies to correct the disorder.

2110 [4100]. American Sign Language I. 4. Basic comprehension and expression of American Sign Language (ASL), the language used by the Deaf community in the United States. ASL vocabulary, grammar, and pragmatics are taught through lecture, conversation, and storytelling. The direct experience method (using ASL with no voice) is utilized to enhance the learning process. Prerequisites: none. (Offered fall, spring and summer)

2120 [4120]. American Sign Language II. 4. Second level of ASL comprehension and expression. ASL vocabulary, grammar, and pragmatics, along with increased fluency, are taught through lecture, conversation, and storytelling. Translation from English to ASL is addressed. Prerequisites: SPPA 2110.

3160 [4160]. Language Development. 3. Deals with the development of semantics, syntax, morphology, discourse, and pragmatics for typically-developing children from infancy to adolescence. Includes relinguistic and paralinguistic communication, the cognitive correlates of communication, and written language. Considers the effects of sociocultural context and multiple language acquisition. Prerequisite: SPPA 1010.

3210 [2210]. Phonetics. 3. Normal speech sound development and articulatory description of speech sound production. Introduction to the International Phonetic Alphabet and development of speech transcription skills. Prerequisite: SPPA 1010.

3265 [3400]. Anatomy and Physiology of Speech, Swallowing and Hearing. 3. Introduces the student to the anatomy of the normal speech and hearing systems as well as the physiologic underpinnings of the speech (respiration, phonation, articulation), swallowing, and hearing (external, middle, and inner ear) systems. Theories of speech production and speech perception are presented. Prerequisites: KIN 2040.

4000. Workshop in Speech Pathology/Audiology. 1‑8 (Max. 8). Varies with interests of student requests. Incorporates material relative to any area of speech and hearing. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

4070. Deaf Culture and the History of Deaf America. 4. [C2<>CS, D] Studies deaf culture and deaf history in the United States. Culture topics will include deaf community dynamics, humor, behavior, emotional and social interaction, besides issues involving deaf children as a linguistic minority. History will be discussed from the 1700s to the present in the U.S. Dual listed with SPPA 5070. Prerequisites: SPPA 2110.

4130. Advanced ASL. 4. Third level of ASL comprehension and expression. Addresses increased fluency in ASL; register variation for different conversational participants; and specialized vocabulary, including sexuality and religion. Translation from English to ASL is addressed. Prerequisites: SPPA 2120.

4150. Aural Rehabilitation. 3. Examines basis for and characteristics of communication problems created by hearing loss and management procedures to facilitate communication and adjustment to hearing loss. Includes acoustic and visual properties of speech, amplification devices and hearing loss in school children. Dual listed with SPPA 5150. Prerequisite: SPPA 4340.

4220. Speech Disorders Across the Lifespan. 3. The nature and causes of developmental and acquired speech disorders across the lifespan are examined. Topics include developmental speech sound disorders, apraxia, stuttering, dysarthria, voice disorders and other disordered speech populations. Principles of assessment and remediation are introduced. Prerequisite: SPPA 3265 and 4160.

4240. Language Disorders Across the Lifespan. 3. The nature and causes of developmental and acquired language disorders across the lifespan are examined. Topics include the behavioral and linguistic characteristics of specific language impairment, intellectual disability, autism, traumatic brain injury, right hemisphere trauma, aphasia, and dementia. Principles of assessment and remediation are introduced. Prerequisites: SPPA 3265, SPPA 4160.

4310. Acoustics of Speech and Hearing. 3. Study of 1) the nature of sound and 2) normal speech and hearing processes. Topics include characteristics of simple and complex sound, sound travel in the environment, psychoacoustics, speech perception, speech production, and analysis of sound in humans. Prerequisite: SPPA 3265.

4340. Basic Audiology. 3. An introduction to audiology as a profession, with primary focus on screening and diagnostic methods for the clinical evaluation of hearing loss in children and adults.Prerequisites: SPPA 3265. (Normally offered spring semester)

4500. Early Childhood: Language Development and Disorders. 3. Encompasses development of normal children's linguistic abilities. Presents concomitant motor, cognitive and social development; instructional procedures to facilitate language development; and effect of various disabilities on development of the communicative system of the child. Course cannot be substituted for SPPA 4160, 4240 or 5160. Prerequisites: minimum of junior standing and consent of instructor.

4750. Research Methods in Communication Disorders. 3. [(none)<>WC] Deals with scientific investigation of normal, disordered, and intervention aspects of speech, language, and hearing. Topics include evaluating and synthesizing published research, research writing, research design, and data analysis techniques. The aims are to develop writing competence within the discipline, to create research-aware clinicians, and to introduce students to research careers. Prerequisite: STAT 2070.

4890. Independent Study. 1-3 (Max. 4). An independent study will be developed by the instructor and undergraduate student. It will consist of activities such as: conducting a small research project, assisting in a research project, composing a systematic research review, participating in a clinical experience, or helping to develop a professional development or public awareness program. Prerequisite: prior or concurrent enrollment in SPPA 3210.

5000. Seminar in Communication Disorders. 1-8 (Max. 8). The participation in and discussion of special problems and/or research related to speech-language, pathology and audiology. Prerequisite: B.S. degree and consent of instructor.

5070. Deaf Culture and the History of Deaf America. 4. Studies deaf culture and history in the United States. Culture topics include deaf community dynamics, humor, behavior, emotional and social interaction, besides issues involving deaf children as a linguistic minority. History is discussed from the 1700s to the present in the U.S. Dual listed with SPPA 4070. Prerequisite: SPPA 2110.

5090. American Sign Language III. 4. Translation of English idioms for ASL and learning of ASL idioms, along with drugs, religion and sexuality signs, vocabulary, and cultural usage. Prerequisite: SPPA 2120.

5115. Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Seminar. 3. Advanced professional course for students interested in current trends and issues in early childhood development. Interdisciplinary in nature, drawing from research in communication disorders, kinesiology and health, elementary and early childhood education and special education, child and family studies, nursing, and psychology. Cross listed with FCSC, EDEC, NURS, PSYC, HLED 5115. Prerequisite: graduate status.

5120. Stuttering. 2. Theories of etiology, symptoms of the problem, diagnosis and treatment of childhood non-fluency and various approaches to therapy for the adult stutterer. Prerequisite: graduate level standing.

5130. Aphasia. 3. Includes neuroanatomical bases of language; characteristics, assessments and intervention with individuals who have aphasia or right hemisphere damage. Prerequisites: SPPA 4380.

5140. Evaluation Procedures in Communication Disorders. 3. Focuses on the processes and procedures related to the evaluation of communication disorders. Topics include interviewing, norm-referenced assessment, criterion-based measurement, dynamic assessment, progress monitoring, and psychometric analysis. Overviews models of disability, such as medical, functional, and sociopolitical models, and how they influence the evaluation process. Prerequisite: acceptance to the University of Wyoming SLP Master's Program.

5150. Aural Rehabilitation. 3. Examines basis for and characteristics of communication problems created by hearing loss and management procedures to facilitate communication and adjustment to hearing loss. Includes acoustic and visual proper- ties of speech, amplification devices and hearing loss in school children. Dual listed with SPPA 4150. Prerequisite: SPPA 4340.

5210. Developmental Disabilities. 3. AAC and other interventions, communication, and cognitive profiles associated with developmental disabilities, such as intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and sensorimotor impairments. Intervention approaches to support communicative development in these populations. Selection, design, and application of augmentative/alternative communication systems to enhance communication, education, and quality of life for individuals with developmental and acquired disorders. Prerequisite: SPPA 4160.

5220. Voice Disorders. 3. Study of the etiology, assessment, and remediation of voice disorders. Includes a discussion of preventing disorders, maintaining a healthy voice, and normal changes in voice. Presentation of rehabilitation options for laryngectomized speaker. Prerequisite: SPPA 3265.

5230. Dysphagia. 3. Provides information regarding the anatomy and physiology of the adult and pediatric swallowing mechanisms, the diagnosis of dysphagia and feeding disorders using clinical and instrumental approaches, the medical diagnoses for which dysphagia is a common symptom, and methods that are commonly used to treat dysphagia and feeding disorders. Prerequisite: SPPA 3265.

5270. Educational Practicum. 1-12 (Max. 12). Under supervision, the student is given increased responsibility for performing speech and language assessments, hearing screenings, and treatment of children in an educational setting. Students will relate to other educational personnel and counsel teachers and families about communication disorders. Prerequisites: completion of at least two semesters (including summer) of approved graduate coursework and clinical practicum (SPPA 5030); and approval of faculty.

5290. Medical Practicum. 1-12 (Max. 12). Under supervision, the student is given increased responsibility for performing speech and language assessments, hearing screenings and treatment of children and adults in a medical setting. Students relate to other medical and clinical personnel and counsel professionals and families about communication disorders. Prerequisites: Completion of at least two semesters (including summer) of approved graduate coursework and clinical practicum; and approval of faculty.

5330. School-Age Language Intervention. 3. Principles and techniques of language assessment and intervention for school-age children and adolescents with particular attention to service delivery issues in schools. Prerequisite: SPPA 4160.

5380. Professional Practice. 1-2 (Max. 4). Discusses issues related to the professional practice of speech-language pathology or audiology, including ethics, professional standards, public law, and universal precautions. Prerequisite: graduate standing in Communication Disorders and consent of instructor.

5500. Topics in Language. 1-8 (Max. 9). Provides a critical review of recent theories and developments in the area of language disorders. This is a continuing seminar course dealing with various advanced topics in language disorders. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

5750. Research Methods in Speech Pathology and Audiology. 3. Emphasizes the application of scientific methodologies to areas of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Topics to be covered include: introduction to writing research papers; reviewing and critiquing the literature; experimental designs; techniques in data analyses. Prerequisite: STAT 2070 or equivalent; B.S. degree in speech pathology audiology; and acceptance into the graduate program.

5890. Independent Study. 1-3 (Max. 4). Graduate-level independent study will be developed by the instructor and student. It will consist of activities such as: conducting a research project of a smaller scale than a thesis, assisting in a research project, composing a systematic research review, or developing a professional education or public awareness program. Satisfactory/unsatisfactory only. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

5900. Practicum in College Teaching. 1-3 (Max. 3). Work in classroom with a major professor. Students are expected to give some lectures and gain classroom experience. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

5959. Enrichment Studies. 1-3 (Max. 99). Designed to provide an enrichment experience in a variety of topics. Note: credit in this course may not be included in a graduate program of study for degree purposes.

5960. Thesis Research. 1-12 (Max. 24). Graduate level course designed for students who are involved in research for their thesis project. Also used for students whose coursework is complete and are writing their thesis. Prerequisite: enrollment in a graduate degree program.

5961. Graduate Projects. 1-4. (Max. 4). Limited to those students enrolled in a Plan B graduate program. Students should be involved in non-course scholarly activities in support of their Plan B project. Prerequisites: must be enrolled in Plan B program and have departmental approval.